Former Horse Rescue Operator Wants Jury Trial

The former operator of a horse rescue being investigated by the Ohio Attorney General's office for mismanagement is seeking a jury trial in connection with criminal charges brought against her by a Miami County humane organization.

On Feb. 20, Dan Tierney, spokesman for Ohio Attorney Mike DeWine, said Shula Woodworth, operator of the Serenity Horse Rescue, in Bethel Township, agreed to dissolve her organization and redistribute its assets after Attorney General's Office investigators found that the organization was not managed properly. Under an Assurance of Discontinuance filed in the Franklin County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Woodworth agreed to redistribute all the organization's assets including $6,430 payment to other organizations that rescue horses, Tierney said.

“As far as we are concerned, she has done everything the attorney general has asked,” Tierney said.

But, Tierney said, Woodworth was facing criminal charges relative to the removal of 23 horses last year by the Miami County Humane Society. Several other animals were also removed from the Serenity premises.

Woodworth was unavailable for comment.

A representative for the Miami County prosecutor's office said Woodworth initially pleaded not guilty to the charges during an appearance in the Miami County Municipal Court. But on Feb. 26, Woodworth appeared in court and requested a jury trial in conjunction with those criminal charges, the representative said.